Here we go again! tc464 (A) vs. Mike (J) - No tc464

[Q-Ball]

He did you a favor by shock attacking at PM. An IJA division should restore order no problem.

As it stands, those units will probably retreat along the coast toward Terapo, rather than surrender. That will allow him to pull out fragments via Catalina, though the bulk of them will still starve. You'll have to land someone at Terapo just so they don't occupy the base and try to make something of it.

[Mike Solli]

Thanks Q-Ball.  The 4 Div is 2 days out.  I think Terapo is a great vacation destination for one of the SNLF companies.

[Mike Solli]

Thanks Q-Ball.  The 4 Div is 2 days out.  I think Terapo is a great vacation destination for one of the SNLF companies.

[BrucePowers]

Hi Mike!

[Mike Solli]

Hi Bruce.  How's sunny Florida.  We have sun somewhere around here, presumedly above all the snow and clouds. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

18 Jan 42
 
Quiet day today, but preparations for future ops continue.
 
Ted seems to be concentrating subs one hex NW of Rabaul.  That's a good place for him since all my convoys from Truk pass through that hex.  Unfortunately for him, his subs rarely hit anything and when they do, they're pretty much always duds.
 
I have an ASW TF with DDs and PBs sitting in that hex and it finally paid off.  I landed a DC on a sub there.  Hopefully, he'll go away.
 
Ambon
 
The SNLF that's there is going to try to attack tomorrow.  I don't expect to take the place, but it's worth a shot.  Ted has the initial forces there, an infantry battalion, a CD unit and a base force.  The SNLF will have bombardment support from a CA TF protecting them.  There are additional forces (a couple more SNLFs) and garrison forces headed there.  Once taken, the 22 Air Flotilla is prepared to fly in and shut down any ability for Ted to move surface forces in that area.  Note that there's nothing visible there right now.
 
SE Fleet
 
The 4 Div is 1.5 days out from Pt. Moresby.  Ted's garrison there is toast.  I have a base force prepared to land there.  It's currently on transports just leaving Rabaul.  It'll remain a couple days sail from Pt. Moresby and won't land until Pt. Moresby is secured.
 
The little SNLF companies are now headed for specific bases I want to deny to Ted.  These include Lunga, Tulagi and the dot hex at the tip of New Guinea (can't remember the name).
 
Java
 
The Java invasion force is gathering at Cam Ranh Bay.  I plan on invading the base to the SE of Batavia called Kalidjati, which was garrisoned at the beginning of the war with a base force.  I don't know what's there now.  I chose this base because it has a level 4 airfield and I can easily cut the island in half.  I plan on cutting the island in half and then moving toward the northern half.  I want to secure the northern potential air bases from Ted to secure the southern flank of the Palembang operation.  Once Singapore is invested, the northern flank of the Palembang invasion will be secure and I can figure out when to do that invasion.  Anyway, I have the 38 Div (and all the artillery and other support units from the Hong Kong operation) and the 21 Independent Brigade, along with 2 tank regiments.  There are 2 air support battalions going in with the first wave.  As soon as I push out the enemy, I'll be able to to send in an Oscar and Zero unit (18 Zeros and 30 Oscars) for air cover.  Then, I'll load up Billiton with bombers for air support.  In the second wave will be 2 base forces (eventually for Batavia and Soerabaja).  This will allow me to move more aircraft onto the Java mainland.  The 4 Division will land after they are finished securing Pt. Moresby.  KB is headed south from Takao toward Babeldaob to refuel.  Then they will head south toward the Thursday island gap to escort the 4 Division north to Java.  In the unexpected event that the Java invasion force is more successful than expected, the 4 Division may be diverted to another target in the SRA.  We'll see
 
Other Thoughts
 
Yesterday, I spent the day at a meeting and had a lot of time to ponder the game.  It just so happened that the notebook I grabbed to take notes had the notes I made when I first got the game.  I had some time to review them and make some adjustments based on my limited experience from this PBEM. 

I thought about the Japanese economy (surprise, surprise) and decided on changing some of the resource TFs.  China/Manchuria/Korea used more oil than than they produce.  There is only one refinery in that region, at Pt. Arthur, of 120 points.  In theory, you can let the surplus oil in the region be used up slowly by that refinery.  It'll take close to 2 years for that to happen though.  I propose a middle ground option.  Pt. Arthur seems to accumulate most of the oil and resources from the region.  Next time I start a game, I plan on using about 20 Yusen N cargos (enough for 2 full TFs) escorted by the 6 E Momis (3 per TF).  That would allow the TFs to suck out the resources and a modest amount of oil for Honshu.  Eventually (~2 years) the HI/LI in C/M/H will run short of fuel, but that can be replenished from the SRA.  It's a shorter distance from the SRA to China than to Japan.  What do you guys think?

[Mike Solli]

Duplicate.

[Mike Solli]

19 Jan 42

China

Lots of action here. I attacked 1 hex SW of Nanyang trashing the Chinese, 4271 to 81 Japanese losses. I also attacked 4 hexes S of Yenan, killing 1716 for 287 losses. Finally, Ted shock attacked me (moving over a river) taking 747 casualties to 20 Japanese.

Malaya

Over Singapore I lost 3 Lilys and a Sally because my bombers flew before the Oscar sweep. That lonely Buffalo shot down 2 and flak accounted for the remainder. I'm flying LRCAP and escort next time to see if I can catch that Buffalo and do him in.

Billiton

I made a mistake here. I forgot to change the Zero daitai to CAP (it was still on sweep of Batavia even though the airfield is still level 1). 13x 139WH-3s escorted by 6x B339Ds bombed the airfield. 10 Oscars flew CAP. The bombers got through and destroyed an Oscar (model Ia) on the ground. I hope he tries again tomorrow. He doesn't know the Zeros are there. That's the daitai that murdered the Buffalos in Malaya. I have them on CAP along with the Oscars. They have 70 kills so far. I'm hoping to add to that tomorrow. [:D]

Ambon

The SNLF at Ambon attacked the defenders there for no effect.

SE Fleet

The 4 Div is 1 movement phase out of Pt. Moresby. There are two small Allied TFs in or around PM right now. I moved a C5M2 chutai to Lae to fly naval search to the SW (PM area). I'm hoping this will entice the 2 Betty daitai in Rabaul to heave a few torpedoes tomorrow. There is also a TF composed of 2 BB, 2 CL (Kitakami and Oi) and 4 DD (the guys that bombarded PM a couple of days ago) that will reach PM tomorrow, also in the first phase. I'm hoping they will get a little gunnery practice with the Allied ships.

Other Stuff

At Darwin, a midget sub was lost attempting to enter the harbor.

The xAK that was damaged at Ternate went down. Fortunately, it was empty.

The Java invasion force continues to congegrate at Cam Ranh Bay.

The reinforcements for Ambon are crawling south.

[BrucePowers]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Hi Bruce.  How's sunny Florida.  We have sun somewhere around here, presumedly above all the snow and clouds. [:D]

Sunny but cool not cold.

[Mike Solli]

Looking forward to Feb 42...
 
The first thing on the agenda is to upgrade DDs.  There are 3 different classes that can upgrade in Feb 42:
 
12x Mutsuki (0 DC, 90 AA, 4000 endurance)
9x Kamikaze (2 DC, 102 AA, 3600 endurance)
13x Minekaze (2 DC, 90 AA, 2500 endurance)
 
I'd like to upgrade them in the order shown, but it'll most likely be whoever's available.  The Mutsukis are definitely first, to get the DC racks added.  Obviously, I can't upgrade 34 DDs at once, but I'll try to start 8-10 a week.  It takes 3 weeks to upgrade a DD so there is going to be a definite shortage of good escorts for most of Feb.
 
I'd like to liberate the remainder of Borneo in Feb, as well as clear out the pests in Singapore.  I'll keep working on Bataan, but it doesn't really matter if it falls in Feb or not.  It's good training for the 5th Air Division.
 
When Singapore falls, I'll really pour troops into Java.  I'll also invade Palembang once Batavia falls.  I'm confident I can take Palembang quickly once Singapore falls. 
 
I'll secure Ambon this month and will then isolate Timor by air.  Once I get a decent ground force (at least a brigade sized force from Singapore or Bataan), I'll move on Timor. 
 
I hope to secure practically all of the major SRA must see sites by the end of Feb 42.  I'll also continue to mop up the little bases as I can.

[Mike Solli]

Duplicate.

[Q-Ball]

I prefer to convert the Minekazes and Kamikazes to APDs. They don't lose much speed, but gain cargo space. They aren't really destroyers and I don't use them as such, they are really your best escorts. That's my 2 yen anyway.

I could maybe see keeping the Kamikazes as DDs if you think you will run short, but they aren't very good surface combattants. I don't like the Minekazes as DDs at all with that short-range; they are better off escorting Oil tankers.

I do keep the Mutsukis as DDs though; I want as many Long-Lance tubes in the fleet as possible.

You didn't mention the Wakatakes, those are also good APD conversions. The Ootoris are a no-brainer conversion to E in August, same with the Tomozurus, which convert a little earlier.

Speaking of conversions, how much converting did you do of the AK-ts? Do you plan more? I did wholesale conversions, I will have to count, but I seem to have found an equilibrium. I might even convert some back as needs change, which is the cool thing about those conversions; you can take it back.

[ny59giants]

The SNLF companies (AV - 15) with a 3 ship Fast Transport TF are great for taking empty bases.

[Mike Solli]

Q-Ball, I'll have to check to see the changes for Minekazes and Kamikazes to APDs. I might do that. I usually allocate specific ships for specific functions. I plan on using some Mutsukis and Kamikazes for AO escort. (The Minekaze's legs are too short.) I planned on using the Minekazes for short range escorts of merchant ships. All these ships are primarily DC carriers.

I didn't mention the Wakatakes, Ootoris or Tomozurus because they don't upgrade in Feb 42. I agree with your suggestions on them, by the way.

Rereading you post, I think we use the obsolete DDs for the same reason - escorts. I don't really use them in the conventional way a DD is used. I don't intend for them to get into a fight with anything more than a sub.

I still haven't done any -t conversions yet. I still have excess merchant shipping right now. My xAPs are doing great work moving around units pretty quickly. If I find I need the extra troop movement capability, I'll start converting some of the 18kt xAKs (Yusan A & S and Kyushu classes). They'll be used strictly for moving stuff, no invasions for them.

Which classes did you convert to the -t?

[Mike Solli]

I basically use the same thing for taking those little unoccupied bases. In my case I use some of the Naval Guard units that are broken down into companies.

[SqzMyLemon]

Mike, what's your AV strength at Bataan? Do you think it's worth just isolating the base and bomb it? You'll need to get you bombers less than 14k to have much effect. I pretty much learned a week of bombing at 20k to avoid heavy flak losses was a waste of time. My first assault was a bloody one and I didn't reduce the fort level at all either (level 4)...in hindsight I'd chase the allies to Bataan and just let them sit there and rot. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

Not sure what the AV is. I'll check it later. I'm planning on bombing (mainly for experience). I hope to get a few pilots that get enough experience to go to TRACOM for the IJA. I don't have many. Other than that, I'll just blast away with artillery and do the occasional ground assault. If it looks like they're entrenched, I may pull a division out for other missions.

[Q-Ball]

Actually the Minekazes are perfect for AO escort, because they can suck fuel from the AO. That's the ideal role. Kamikazes are good all-around escorts.

The APD conversions for Minekaze to me should be done. You trade 2 torpedo tubes for extra AA guns and cargo space, plus you get a radar much earlier with the APD. It's a no-brainer.

The Kamikaze APD conversion is sort of an opinion; you sacrifice 6 tubes for AA guns and cargo space. The torps though are not Long Lance. They aren't great DDs anyway, so I went ahead and converted. I can see keeping them, but I don't think you need those little torpedos.

Mutsukis should be considered as escorts and emergency fleet DDs. If you suffer high losses in Special DD types, you can fall back on the Mutsukis. I would never convert them; Long Lances too valuable.

You probably figured this out, but don't ever convert the Momis to APD; you lose way too much speed, all the way to 18 kts.

[Mike Solli]

20 Jan 42

SE Fleet

The I-9, which has been hanging around Pt. Moresby for a few days found an xAKL. She surfaced and pumped 10 5.5" shells into her and submerged when she ran out.

The BB TF ran into a sub on the way to PM. The sub shot some torps at the Mutsu but they didn't explode. We dropped some depth charges but got only near misses. The 4 Division landed successfully. I'm going to bombard with the BBs and attack with the ground troops. The 4 Division is rather disrupted (in the 20s) but I'm hoping it'll work.

Malaya

The single Buffalo rose to counter my air attack and survived. I lost a Sally and Lily to flak. My ground forces are getting closer.....

I attacked and took Pontianak (a couple of hexes south of Singkawang). The resources there were captured at 20(0) and the manpower at 1(1).

Ted sent his planes back to Billiton but this time my Zeros were ready. 10 Zeros and 14 Oscars met 3 B-339Ds and 8 139WH-3s shooting down 1 and 3 respectively for no Japanese loss. I don't expect to see them tomorrow. [:D] I will be ready if he does try again.

Ambon

I attacked again with my SNLF. 1:1 odds netted 106 casualties for 65 Japanese losses and I reduced the forts to level 1. Tomorrow I'll attack again after my CA bombardment.

Burma

I can see ships in port as well as docked at Rangoon. I moved 45 Nells in range and hope they attack tomorrow. They'll have to go in with bombs unfortunately. My ground forces are maneuvering to surround Rangoon. I suspect that if I took it, Ted would bomb the industry there before I had a chance to move fighters there. My intel shows 24k troops.

Other Stuff

I shut off the Glen production. I have 27. That should last awhile. I turned on Sonia production. That really hurts to do because I don't like them but I need them. I'm down to 14 (of 30 to start the war) in the pool.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Actually the Minekazes are perfect for AO escort, because they can suck fuel from the AO. That's the ideal role. Kamikazes are good all-around escorts.

The APD conversions for Minekaze to me should be done. You trade 2 torpedo tubes for extra AA guns and cargo space, plus you get a radar much earlier with the APD. It's a no-brainer.

The Kamikaze APD conversion is sort of an opinion; you sacrifice 6 tubes for AA guns and cargo space. The torps though are not Long Lance. They aren't great DDs anyway, so I went ahead and converted. I can see keeping them, but I don't think you need those little torpedos.

Mutsukis should be considered as escorts and emergency fleet DDs. If you suffer high losses in Special DD types, you can fall back on the Mutsukis. I would never convert them; Long Lances too valuable.

You probably figured this out, but don't ever convert the Momis to APD; you lose way too much speed, all the way to 18 kts.

I think you have me convinced on this Q-Ball. This past turn I sent a dozen DDs to the Home Islands for upgrades/conversions. I may use some Minekazes for the slower AO escorts. The fast AO TF (in my opinion) needs escorts that have a bit more range. I don't want them slowing down to refuel their escorts when they need to catch up with KB.